On this basis, Layton started again in the world, with a confident spirit.  The old store was given up, and a new one taken at about half the rent.  It so happened, that this store was next to the one occupied by Grasper, who, now that he had got his own, and had been made sensible of the indignation of the other creditors for what he had done, felt rather ashamed to look his neighbour in the face.

“Who has taken your store?” he asked of the owner of the property next to his own, seeing him taking down the bill that had been up for a few days.

“Your old friend Layton,” replied the man, who was familiar with the story of Layton’s recent failure.

“You are not in earnest?” said Grasper, looking serious.

Yes—­I have rented it to Layton.”

“He has just been broken up root and branch, and can’t get credit for a dollar.  How can he go into business?”

“Some friends have assisted him.”

“Indeed!  I didn’t suppose a man in his condition had many friends.”

“Oh, yes.  An honest man always has friends.  Layton is an honest man, and I would trust him now as freely as before.  He has learned wisdom by experience, and, if ever he gets into difficulties again, will take good care that no one man gets an undue preference over another.  His recent failure, I am told, was caused by one of his creditors, who, in the eager desire to get his own, sacrificed a large amount of property, to the injury of the other creditors.”

Grasper did not venture to make any reply to this, lest he should betray, by his manner, the fact that he was the individual to whom allusion was made.  He need not have been careful on this point, as the person with whom he was conversing knew very well who was the grasping creditor.

A day or two afterwards, Layton took possession of his new store, and commenced arranging his goods.  Grasper felt uneasy when he saw the doors and windows open, and the goods arriving.  He did not wish to meet Layton.  But this could not now be avoided.  Much as he loved money, and much as he had congratulated himself for the promptness by which he had secured his debt, he now more than half wished that he had been less stringent in his proceedings.

It was the custom of Grasper to come frequently to his door, and stand with his thumbs in the arm-holes of his waistcoat, and look forth with a self-satisfied air.  But not once did he venture thus to stand upon his own threshold on the day Layton commenced receiving his goods.  When business called him out, he was careful to step into the street, so much turned away from the adjoining store, that he could not see the face of any one who might be standing in the entrance.  On returning, he would glide along close to the houses, and enter quickly his own door.  By this carefulness to avoid meeting his old debtor, Grasper managed not to come into direct contact with him for some time.  But this was not always to be the case.  One day, just as he was about entering his store, Layton came out of his own door, and they met face to face.